No 25 Brislington Community & Churches News 16th September 2023

Brislington

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Community Infrastructure Levy grants

What are they?

Local Authorities are given funding for local community projects from private sector developments

We can vote for East and West Brislington projects But votes have to be in by the end of Friday15th September!

Here

• Wyndham Crescent traffic signage

• Eastwood Farm lower playground improvements

• St Luke’s Community Hall Heating upgrade

• Defibrillator Great Western Air Ambulance a city wide project.

• St Christopher's church hall accessible toilet improvments

• Knowle Golf Club Junior facilities improvments

• St Cuthbert's Church for Match funding cost to convert Main church to a versatile community space

• St Cuthbert's improvements for draft proofing windows

• Hungerford Road Community Centre essential repairs

• Sandy Park Road sign and bollards

• Arnos Court Park tarmac path improvement and benches

• Talbot Hill, Hampstead Road Kensington Park Road

improved pedestrian crossings

• Defibrillator Great Western Air Ambulance a city wide project.

Give this trial a go!

There’s a new boat in town as Bristol’s iconic blue-and-yellow ferries trials a route serving Brislington from September 16 to 24. The ferry will run a shuttle service from Netham Lock to the city centre, via Temple Meads, across the two weekends and a commuter service weekday mornings and evenings.

The new route will expand the service to East Bristol, using Netham Lock as a stop for the residents of St Anne’s and Brislington as it is the closest access point before reaching Temple Quay.

Councillor Tim Rippington, Labour councillor for Brislington East, said: “I really hope people will give this a go!”

Bristol Community Ferry Boats is asking Bristolians to fill out a survey to help them create a strategy for the coming years and provide a better service to the city.

The service will depart from city centre at 11am and 1.30pm on weekends and at 5.15pm on weekdays, while on the Netham Lock side the shuttle will depart at 10am, noon and 2.30pm at weekends and at 8am on weekdays.

Fares are £6 for each way of the 40-minute journey. The trial period is being conducted in order to see if there is sufficient demand and footfall on the route.

Visit

the BCFB website to find out more about the trial route.

Foodbank donations

With the price of food continuing to rise, foodbanks are a crucial lifeline for more and more low-income households. Unfortunately, the demand for food is surpassing the number of donations they are receiving. Foodbank reserves are running down and many of them are completely out of some items that make up a foodbank parcel. If you can donate food or other essential items, no matter how much or how little, it really will make a difference. Find out how you can donate and what items they really need. Buy items at supermarkets and place them in the collection areas in the store or at a community collection point. Locally, that includes Sainsburys, Castle Court, or Lidl, Brislington.

Donate through their online shop:

https://www.givetoday.co.uk/sebfoodbanks/

Make a financial donation

Download the Bank the Food app and follow South and East Bristol Foodbank to get notifications about what they need and where you can donate:

https://eastbristol.foodbank.org.uk

Follow the foodbank on social media

to see what their most needed items are

https://eastbristol.foodbank.org.uk/give-help/donate-money/ Donations needed: tinned fruit, tinned fish, tinned meal meals, jam, long life milk, tinned potatoes, toilet roll, instant coffee, shampoo, custard. Thank you.

https://www.bankthefood.org

Brislington churches support Bristol Food Banks

Despite living in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, around 90% of low-income households receiving Universal Credit are going without essentials, driving more and more people into hardship and through the doors of food banks.

Do you agree this isn’t right?

Everyone’s circumstances can change. Losing your job, needing to care for a sick family member, breaking up with your partner – these are things that can happen to any of us.

Our social security system should offer adequate support to anyone in need of help, but right now it’s not based on an objective assessment of what things cost and isn’t even providing enough to cover life’s essentials.

Will you help change this?

You can help today by joining our call to UK political party leaders to support the introduction of an Essentials Guarantee within Universal Credit to ensure that the basic rate at least covers life’s essentials, such as food and bills, and can never be pulled below that level. Sign the petition Here

After the summer break!

The volunteers at BS4 Repair Cafe will be back Saturday 16th September

Ready to welcome you, Make you a cuppa and try to fix your broken stuff!!

St Cuthbert's Church Hall (bottom entrance) on the corner of Sandy Park Road and Wick Road. From 10am until 12 noon

What do you have that no longer works? Bring it along and we'll see what we can do. Torn seams, missing buttons? We do textile repairs too!

Use it or Lose it – Our Library

Being stuck at home may not be a lot of fun. It can be hard getting all the essential things done. It leaves no energy for the things that bring you joy, like getting in the library books. How many of us get a real thrill out of looking at all the books on the library shelves, seeking out new titles to enjoy or familiar volumes to read again. But help is at hand and read all about it Here

To go with our newly-decorated footbridge on Brislington Hill, a local craft group have knitted a beautiful, nature-themed, postbox topper. Thank you!

Brislington Welcome is a community sponsorship group which has been created in accordance with, and as a part of, a government scheme to give ordinary people the power to directly resettle refugee families to their community. Read more Here

Looking ahead to 7th October

Support Brislington Welcome and have an enjoyable evening at the All at Sea Ceilidh event that we have coming up - it's on October 7th at the URC on Grove Park Road. Tickets can be bought via Eventbrite Here.

If you don’t know what a Ceilidh is, have a look Here

How statistics are misused

The Sunday Times newspaper published an alleged survey of the views of Church of England clergy on various topical matters and many other newspaper and online sources picked it up and requoted without examining it.

The Times ‘survey of CoE clergy’ sent out 5,000 questionnaires, and then used the results of 1,200 whom responded. The responses of clergy over retirement age of 70, were discounted, leaving the total number of responses considered in assessing the ‘views of the clergy’ as 769 of the 1,185 responses, 5000 questionnaires and 12000 total number of clergy.

The article also alleged that the number of churches closing was at the highest level. In response the Church of England's Secretary General, said: “Local parish churches are at the very heart of the Church of England's mission and over the next nine years we are investing £3.6 billion of Church Commissioners funds in front-line ministry up and down the land, focussing particularly on those communities most in need. The number of consecrated churches closed has decreased in each of the last five decades. The figures, provided to the Sunday Telegraph but omitted, are as follows:

• 1969-1979: 760

• 1980-1989: 485

• 1990-1999: 274

• 2000-2009: 243

• 2010-2019: 209

Of course, churches do sometimes close - but the truth is that the number of closures is the lowest it has been for fifty years and we are starting new worshipping communities and churches all the time

Join in the Fundraiser for an AED

But what’s an AED?

It’s an Automated external defibrillator

But what does it do?

It saves lives after heart attacks Read

Macmillan Coffee Morning

Friday 29th September from 10.00 -12.00 at Thomas Davis Funeral Directors

50 Sandy Park Road BS4 3PQ meet the new members of our team and enjoy a piece of cake

Beyond Brislington

Listen to Bishop Viv’s statement on the Bristol Bus Boycott Here

Around our Brislington churches

What’s Christianity all about?

Anyone can find out more at the Christian Enquiry Agency.

Ask your questions without anyone following up or pressurising you

Or, of course, pop into one of the Brislington churches on a Sunday and see what we are all about

Websites

Click to open

St Anne

St Christopher St Cuthbert

St Luke

St Peter's (Methodist)

Facebook

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St Anne Facebook

St Christopher Facebook

St Cuthbert Facebook

St Luke Facebook

St Peter's (Methodist)

September Church services across Brislington

There's a great choice of churches, times and types of service across the Brislington churches through September. If you've never been to one, why not give it a try

This Sunday with the bible

Every Sunday we have three short passages from the bible to reflect on. There's usually one from the Old Testament - the Jewish bible as well as Christian; one from the life of the early church after Jesus; and one from the gospel stories of Jesus' life. Have

All three passages tell stories or speak about mercy, compassion and forgiveness and in the gospel Jesus tells a tough story contrasting the behaviours of two people who have power over others. It’s a good question to ask ourselves – which of the two are we most like?

St Anne’s Church

St Christopher’s Church

Brislington Community Luncheon

Club for the over 55s

Looking for company and good food?

Then we may have just the thing for you.

Join us for our next luncheon club for the over 55’s

On the third Wednesday of the month

Next 13th September

St Christophers Hall, Hampstead Road.

Dinner, pudding & a cup of tea/coffee

Entrance Charge £4.00

Doors open at12.00, Lunch served 12.30, leave when you please.

St Cuthbert’s church

Climate and Nature Action in Brislington

Wednesday 20 Sept, 6.15pm - 8pm, St Cuthbert’s Church Hall

Join us for our next community workshop on climate and nature action in Brislington. The session will help us to create a climate action plan for Brislington - which is all about making a happy, healthy place to live for everyone and taking positive action for our planet at the same time.

In collaboration with Bristol Green Capital's CommunityClimateAction Project,which places community leadership at the forefront of efforts to address climate challenges and inequality. Read more and book here.

St Luke’s church

Harvest Festival

Our Harvest service will be on Sunday 24 September. The service will start at 11.00am and we will then join together for a ‘Bring & Share’ Lunch in the hall.

Everyone is very welcome

The harvest gifts will be divided between ‘Loaves & Fishes’ (for food parcels) and ‘The Wild Goose’ (for providing hot meals).

Suggestions include:Fresh fruit & veg, Tinned Veg (peas, carrots, green beans, sweetcorn, mixed veg), Tinned Tomatoes, Tinned Tuna, Tinned fruit and rice pudding, Tea bags, Coffee, Sugar, UHT milk, Powdered milk, Dried Herbs: rosemary, thyme, oregano, mixed herbs, Spices (all spices). Ground Black Pepper, Tomato Ketchup, Vinegar, Cereals (weetabix, cornflakes, rice krispies) and Porridge Oats, Bulk bags of Rice, Pasta, and Cous Cous

Volunteers are needed to help decorate the church on Saturday 23 September from 9.30am. Contributions towards the cost of the flowers can be given to Barbara Beresford or the Church Wardens. Thank you.

Everyone is very welcome

The Wild Goose is run by inHope (previously known as Crisis Centre). Again, St Luke’s has been supporting them for well over 12 years. They are based in Stapleton Road and supply hot food, showers etc to those in need, currently around 160 meals a day.

Food donations we give them from harvest will be used to make meals, so can take large size packs, cans etc. They are requesting Tinned Veg (peas, carrots, green beans, sweetcorn, mixed veg), Tinned Tomatoes, Tea bags, Coffee, Sugar, UHT milk, Powdered milk, Dried Herbs: rosemary, thyme, oregano, mixed herbs, Spices (all spices). Ground Black Pepper, Tomato Ketchup, Vinegar, Cereals (weetabix, cornflakes, rice krispies) and Porridge Oats, Bulk bag of Rice, Pasta, and Couscous please.

Donations can be taken any day between 8.30am and 4.00pm – but whoever is taking it needs to phone or text Andy (Deputy Manager for Provisions) in advance to arrange a collectiondate and time please –

07815 701611

This year we are looking for volunteers to help deliver the donations to the right place…

Loaves and Fishes is run by the Community of the Sisters of the Church and we have supported them for many years. They are open throughout the year and supply bags of food to anyone in need. They are also a listening ear and provide prayer and advice as necessary. Many of the clients are also struggling to pay gas and electric bills so the Sisters provide £20 top ups to those who really need it –some days that can amount to up to £300! For harvest it is a continued need of what we send regularly - anything in tins or ambient packaging, basic toiletry items and - a more recent need –nappies.

Any fresh fruit or veg collected at harvest can also go to them for handing out to people, and any cash donations can be handed to the Sisters.

Loaves & Fishes need to be taken on the Monday or Tuesday morning (after 10.00am).

St Peter’s Methodist church

Craft and Hobbies Club

Monday 19.30 – 21.00

Carol Payne 0117 9710747

We are a friendly group of Crafters who love to chat while making items for charity and family. Join us and knit, crochet, sew, cross stitch, etc.

Brislington Carers Group

We are a friendly supportive group of people who care for someone who has dementia. The meetings allow us time to discuss our caring roles and to feel genuinely listened to.

First Wednesday of each month 10.30-12.30

Louise Brown 07752 340370

Brislington School of Dance

Tuesday 16.45 – 19.30

Thursday 19.00-21.20

Friday 17.30 – 18.30 18.45-20.45

Saturday 09.00 – 17.30

term time only

Debbie Bassett 01761 472 109

Stagehandsdance@gmail.co

The Brislington School of Dance was established over 30 years ago by principal dance teacher Debbie Bassett who still runs the school today. Many of the students that grew up taking dance classes now send their own children here. Dancing can impart many skills that can be used throughout life.

Zum Zumba

Thursday 17.00-19.00

Gill Tippetts 0782 7441 109 Gilltip@gmail.com

Jacqui Price 0776 6467 093

Zumba is a combination of salsa and aerobics involving your entire body, from your arms to your shoulders and your feet, so you’ll get a full-body workout whilst having fun and enjoyment.

Tai Chi

Monday 14.15 – 15.15

John Bruce 0771 8745 815

Tai Chi is a set of exercises which seek to establish a balanced and relaxed body. Based on Chinese wisdom it is well known for reducing stress and producing excellent health benefits, both mental and physical.

Broomhill Food Club

Tuesday 12.30 – 14.30

FOOD CLUB | Ebcc (eastbristolchildrenscentre.co.uk)

Runs in partnership with Family Action. For £3.50 each week we offer a food parcel worth approx. £15 for anyone who lives in the local community who wants to reduce waste and save money. You are welcome to contact us.

Keep Fit

Wednesday 10.00 – 11.00

Eileen Scott 0796 9929 733

Scottyartois@hotmail.com

Improve mobility, flexibility, strength, balance and general wellbeing, whilst having fun and making new friends. All are welcome. Try the first session for free.

Bristol Concert Wind Band

Wednesday 19.30 – 21.30

Ian Maitland-Round

Info@bcwb.co.uk 0117 4057369

Bristol Concert Wind Band (BCWB) has rehearsed at St Peter’s since 2001 and enjoys an excellent relationship with the Church providing concerts and playing at our Carol Services. BCWB is among the premier wind band in the Bristol area.

Nightingale Valley Community Choir

Monday 19.30-21.00

Anya Szreter 07720 390275

Nightingale Valley Community Choir is a fun and friendly group for all levels of ability (or lack of!). No auditions and no need to read music. Performances include Saint Mary Redcliffe Treefest, Beese's Brizday and twice yearly concerts in collaboration with our two sister choirs, Arnos Vocale and The Redcliffe Singers. More information can be found on our website, https://www.keepitvocal.com/ Come and have a free trial session.

Brislington Ward Councillors

West Brislington

Jos Clark

Andrew Varney

Quarterly newsletter, ‘Focus on Brislington West’ delivered to every household across the ward. You can also sign up for a monthly eFocus at: BristolLibDems.org/localefocus.

Facebook:Here

Twitter:

@BrisLibDems@AndrewJVarney @josclark6

Instagram: andrewjvarne

07584 370429

cllr.andrew.varney@bristol.gov.uk

Jos Clark 07584 183381 East Brislington

About this weekly Newsletter

This is a weekly church and community newsletter from the Brislington churches and is available to anyone who wants to receive it. There is no charge and anyone can subscribe or unsubscribe from it just as they wish.

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The editor of this Newsletter is Guy Wilkinson

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07515327757

The newsletter does not necessarily represent the views of the Church Councils of the Brislington churches